Rene whatsisname from Quebec was on 960 and said:
A. Most hockey folks think it was way too much.
B. He thinks the league figured 10 days was the right amount and this is how to get there at the end of the day - figures the appeal will result in 10 games.
C. He thinks the position of the Flames and NHLPA - that it's not a suspend able offence at all, is the other end, and they would also accept 10.
D. Bettman wasn't at the hearing since he's the first line of appeal, and he might actually reduce it.
E. The further appeal has never been used before. He didn't say so, but to me that's a big reason for Bettman to try and get to suspension to an amount that all sides will accept. He may not want to risk the further publicity and possible negative result of an independent arbitrator. As a side note, I have always thought it odd that Bettman is the first level of appeal (then again, that's how it works in a lot of franchise arbitration snipe been involved with - its internal at the first level of appeal).
|